Stipend Start Date

[Rfectea]

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So this may or may not have been covered before, but does anyone know if stipend support begins upon matriculation or do we have to wait a month before we receive our first check? Just curious since it would help a lot to start the cash flowing ASAP...

 

[Neuronix]

It totally depends on the place. I did a 3 month summer rotation and didn't get paid until the end of the rotation. Plan for the worst.

 

[j-weezy]

It totally depends on the place. I did a 3 month summer rotation and didn't get paid until the end of the rotation. Plan for the worst.

Ouch. Those must've been some lean times. Did you know you wouldn't get paid until the end when you started?

 

[Neuronix]

Ouch. Those must've been some lean times. Did you know you wouldn't get paid until the end when you started?

It was rough. Fortunately I lived about an hour away at the time and took a train to and back. My rent was very low there so I managed to scrape by. The only thing that hurt me was that the train only ran essentially 9-5 and that lab expected a lot more from its grad students than 9-5 5 days a week.

As for the not getting paid thing, I forget when I found out. It definately came as a surprise though. Like it was right around when I started and I got the e-mail "oh by the way..." When they kept my $100 deposit after all that too I as very upset. Nobody understood why...

 

[ClarinetGeek]

It must vary from program to program. I think I started in mid-June, and I believe I received my first check July 1, for the previous two weeks. And then full stipend Aug 1. Granted, I don't recall exactly. At the time, I was living in a medical fraternity house to save money until I could find my condo. It worked out. Granted I had some support from my family as well as income from part time jobs I had just prior to starting my summer rotation.

 

[Ariodant]

It was rough. Fortunately I lived about an hour away at the time and took a train to and back. My rent was very low there so I managed to scrape by. The only thing that hurt me was that the train only ran essentially 9-5 and that lab expected a lot more from its grad students than 9-5 5 days a week.

As for the not getting paid thing, I forget when I found out. It definately came as a surprise though. Like it was right around when I started and I got the e-mail "oh by the way..." When they kept my $100 deposit after all that too I as very upset. Nobody understood why...

I assume that health insurance doesn't start during summer rotation either?

 

[Neuronix]

I assume that health insurance doesn't start during summer rotation either?

I happened to mention it to the director that I didn't have health insurance and he said I couldn't work in the lab without it. I replied that I haven't had health insurance in about 5 years and had been working in labs...

So they made a special exemption and covered me, I think?

 

[j-weezy]

I happened to mention it to the director that I didn't have health insurance and he said I couldn't work in the lab without it. I replied that I haven't had health insurance in about 5 years and had been working in labs...

So they made a special exemption and covered me, I think?

you're such a thrill seeker! 😀

 

[Ariodant]

I hope Penn has improved over the years...for the penn lovers here.

 

[Brunette1981]

It probably depends on the place and this is a way back memory for me as I'm approaching old-ness but...

We started orientation in early Aug and I think got our first paycheck the last Fri of that month. I don't think we got it at the end of July so they first 3 weeks didn't get paid.

 

[Neuronix]

I'm approaching old-ness

You were born in 1981 I take it? I was too. I AM NOT APPROACHING OLD-NESS!!!

*shakes cane at you*

IIRC, given that my AD hasn't set in yet, I think that's when I got my first paycheck too. Though I had been there for 2 months rotating. That was the biggest check I have ever received 😀 It felt like one of those novelty sized lottery checks. Wow! All my debt is gone! I don't have to work ever again! Err... not quite 🙂

 

[Brunette1981]

You were born in 1981 I take it? I was too. I AM NOT APPROACHING OLD-NESS!!!

*shakes cane at you*

I realized I was approaching old-ness when applicants starting seemed SOO young (in both good and bad ways). Having TA'd in the fall, first year med students also seem real young - especially in social environments or when trying to round up their 50 closest BFFs for a program-sponsored bar night for the applicants (I didn't let them - I'm cranky when I'm responsible for the budget).

Tsk, tsk, youngsters.

 

[Neuronix]

I keep getting older but first year MD/PhDs stay the same age! ALRIGHT!

 

[magwi11]

riiiight.

I was born in 1982, and I'm just starting.

 

[GWD]

Most institutions don't release your first stipend dispersal until the first pay-day following the start of your appointment.

I know this came as a surprise to me, and several others in my incoming class. However, the HR director of our department was able to work with labor relations and got us all an emergency advance until our regular installments began.

If you anticipate this might be a problem for you, you should definately talk to your program director and see how the stipend works at your school while you still have time to plan ahead.